Anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injuries are frequent among athletes and active individuals. While hamstring and patellar tendon autografts are standard for ACL reconstruction, the peroneus longus tendon has emerged as a promising alternative due to favorable graft characteristics and lower donor site morbidity. To evaluate the clinical outcomes and donor site morbidity associated with ACL reconstruction using ipsilateral peroneus longus tendon autograft over a 24-month follow-up. A prospective study was conducted involving 42 patients (mean age 27.43 years) with isolated ACL tears. All patients underwent arthroscopic ACL reconstruction using the ipsilateral peroneus longus tendon. Functional outcomes were assessed using the International Knee Documentation Committee (IKDC) and Lysholm scores at 6, 12, and 24 months. Donor site morbidity was evaluated using the American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Score (AOFAS) and the Foot and Ankle Disability Index (FADI). Knee stability was measured using Lachmann, anterior drawer, and pivot shift tests. IKDC scores significantly improved from a preoperative mean of 63.48 to 96.26 at 24 months (p < 0.0001), and Lysholm scores reached a mean of 95.88. Donor site outcomes were favorable, with AOFAS and FADI scores averaging 98.74 and 95.14, respectively. Postoperative stability tests showed high rates of negative results, indicating restored knee function. ACL reconstruction using the peroneus longus tendon autograft provides excellent functional results with minimal donor site morbidity. The tendon is a viable and safe alternative for primary ACL reconstruction and may be especially useful in select patient populations.
Maran et al. (Wed,) studied this question.